Junior Mahony
Encyclopedia
Junior Mahony was an Irish
sportsperson. He played hurling
with his local club Ardrahan and with the Galway
senior inter-county team in the 1920s. Mahony was the goalkeeper on Galway's first All-Ireland
winning team in 1923.
in the early 1920s. At the time Galway were unopposed in the Connacht Championship
and had an easy passage to the All-Ireland semi-final every year, however, All-Ireland success still eluded the team.
In 1922 the Connacht championship was revived for the first time since 1917. That year Mahony collected a Connacht title as Galway defeated Roscommon
in the provincial final. The men from the West were later defeated by Tipperary
in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In 1923 Galway were unopposed n Connacht once again and went straight into the All-Ireland semi-final. Kilkenny
, the All-Ireland champions of 1922, provided the opposition in that game, however, Galway emerged victorious by 5-4 to 2-0. For the first time since the inaugural championship in 1887 Galway had reached the All-Ireland final. Limerick, winners of the All-Ireland semi-final over Donegal
, were the opponents, however, the team refused to play until all Civil War
prisoners were released. Limerick were initially disqualified and the title awarded to Galway, however, the game eventually took place. Mick Gill’s tactic of dropping the sliothar into the square paid dividends as Galway won the game by 7-3 to 4-5. Not only was it Mahony’s first All-Ireland title but it was also the first time that the county had won the championship.
In 1924 Galway defeated Tipp by a single point to set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Dublin. Mick Gill, who had played with the Galway team for the previous championship, was now a key member of the Dublin team. Galway took an early lead but ‘the Dubs’ got back on level terms when Garrett Howard
drove the ball and the Mahony into the net. Dublin also copied Galway’s tactic of dropping the sliothar into the goalmouth, thus securing a 5-3 to 2-6 victory.
In 1925 Galway trounced Kilkenny by 9-4 to 6-0 in the All-Ireland semi-final to set up a championship decider with Tipperary. It was Galway’s third All-Ireland final in-a-row, however, Tipp got off to a great start with two quick goals. Mahony side never recovered and lost the game by 5-6 to 1-5.
The next two seasons saw Galway face defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, the team received special treatment in 1928. That year Galway got a bye into the All-Ireland final without even picking up a hurley. Cork were the opponents on that occasion and trounced Galway by 6-12 to 1-0. Both sides met again in the championship decider of 1929, however, Mahony got off to a bad start as goalkeeper. Mick Ahern
scored a goal after just twenty-five seconds for Cork and another rout followed. Cork won by 4-9 to 1-3. This defeat brought Mahony’s inter-county hurling career to an end.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
sportsperson. He played hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
with his local club Ardrahan and with the Galway
Galway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
senior inter-county team in the 1920s. Mahony was the goalkeeper on Galway's first All-Ireland
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 1887 for the top hurling teams in Ireland....
winning team in 1923.
Club
Mahony played his club hurling with his local club in Ardrahan, however, he enjoyed little success. In spite of Ardrahan being one of the most successful clubs in the county championship, the club went through a barren period without winning a county title between 1910 and 1949.Inter-county
Mahony first came to prominence on the inter-county scene with GalwayGalway GAA
The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Galway GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway. The county boards are also responsible for the Galway inter-county teams.Unlike all other counties in Ireland,...
in the early 1920s. At the time Galway were unopposed in the Connacht Championship
Connacht Senior Hurling Championship
The Connacht Senior Hurling Championship was the premier "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Connacht in Ireland. The series of games were organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and were played during the summer months.Over the last number of years the...
and had an easy passage to the All-Ireland semi-final every year, however, All-Ireland success still eluded the team.
In 1922 the Connacht championship was revived for the first time since 1917. That year Mahony collected a Connacht title as Galway defeated Roscommon
Roscommon GAA
For more details of Roscommon GAA see Roscommon Senior Club Football Championship or Roscommon Senior Club Hurling Championship.The Roscommon County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Roscommon GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games...
in the provincial final. The men from the West were later defeated by Tipperary
Tipperary GAA
The Tipperary County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or C is one of over 30 regional executive boards throughout the world. These executive boards are known as County Boards even though some no longer correspond to the area under the jurisdiction of the counties from which their names...
in the All-Ireland semi-final.
In 1923 Galway were unopposed n Connacht once again and went straight into the All-Ireland semi-final. Kilkenny
Kilkenny GAA
The Kilkenny County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic Games in County Kilkenny. The county board has its head office and main grounds at Nowlan Park and is also responsible for Kilkenny inter-county teams...
, the All-Ireland champions of 1922, provided the opposition in that game, however, Galway emerged victorious by 5-4 to 2-0. For the first time since the inaugural championship in 1887 Galway had reached the All-Ireland final. Limerick, winners of the All-Ireland semi-final over Donegal
Donegal GAA
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Donegal. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.Gaelic football is strongest in the...
, were the opponents, however, the team refused to play until all Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
prisoners were released. Limerick were initially disqualified and the title awarded to Galway, however, the game eventually took place. Mick Gill’s tactic of dropping the sliothar into the square paid dividends as Galway won the game by 7-3 to 4-5. Not only was it Mahony’s first All-Ireland title but it was also the first time that the county had won the championship.
In 1924 Galway defeated Tipp by a single point to set up an All-Ireland final meeting with Dublin. Mick Gill, who had played with the Galway team for the previous championship, was now a key member of the Dublin team. Galway took an early lead but ‘the Dubs’ got back on level terms when Garrett Howard
Garrett Howard
Garrett Howard was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling at various times with his local clubs Croom in Limerick, Garda in Dublin and Toomevara in Tipperary. He was also a member of the Dublin and Limerick senior inter-county teams from 1921 until 1936...
drove the ball and the Mahony into the net. Dublin also copied Galway’s tactic of dropping the sliothar into the goalmouth, thus securing a 5-3 to 2-6 victory.
In 1925 Galway trounced Kilkenny by 9-4 to 6-0 in the All-Ireland semi-final to set up a championship decider with Tipperary. It was Galway’s third All-Ireland final in-a-row, however, Tipp got off to a great start with two quick goals. Mahony side never recovered and lost the game by 5-6 to 1-5.
The next two seasons saw Galway face defeat in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, the team received special treatment in 1928. That year Galway got a bye into the All-Ireland final without even picking up a hurley. Cork were the opponents on that occasion and trounced Galway by 6-12 to 1-0. Both sides met again in the championship decider of 1929, however, Mahony got off to a bad start as goalkeeper. Mick Ahern
Mick Ahern
Mick ‘Gah’ Ahern was an Irish sportsperson. He played hurling with his local club Blackrock and was a member of the Cork senior inter-county team from 1925 until 1932.-Early life:...
scored a goal after just twenty-five seconds for Cork and another rout followed. Cork won by 4-9 to 1-3. This defeat brought Mahony’s inter-county hurling career to an end.